This is a pretty interesting piece - a pair of cups, both photo transfers. One is General Nogi, who was a famous commander of the Russo Japanese War. The other is a portrait of his wife. The words on the Nogi cup is just "General Nogi" and on the back is "Made by Taniguchi". The cup for the wife only has the words "Kutani", the name of the kiln, on the back. They're commemorated together because they famously committed suicide on the day their lord, the Meiji Emperor, was set to be buried. This is following old samurai tradition of dying with your lord, and his wife together went with him. They were celebrated for following bushido as a result. Nogi was made into a god in Shinto and a shrine was established in Tokyo for him. The Nogi cup is in the same style as other photo transfer cups of the time commemorating Russo Japanese war era generals.

Condition: Mint

Size: 2.25" across